850 Generator to Alternator Conversion

If you have tried at all to run your 850 with a generator you've no doubt noticed it's shortcomings. While I did run a generator for a while on my cars, it was a constant issue with the more modern headlights, like the Carello H4 lights, and the running of extra electronic equipment such as CB radios. But even more importantly, getting them rebuilt was getting harder and harder. There is a very simple upgrade you can do to your 850 to get it into a more modern era of electrical power generation. That upgrade is to install the later alternator system in place of your aging generator system. The primary benefit is a reliable charging system with better capacity as well as an alternator that can be readily rebuilt by any shop. The details follow:

Below is the standard wiring layout of the Generator system. For a printable version, click on the image:

The ROSA, MARRONE and BIANCO wires will be re-routed for the conversion, as shown below. For a printable version, click on the image:

The only missing part of the conversion is the dash charge indicator light relay. The above conversion results in an indicator light that works backwards, ie instead of being OFF when the system is charging, the light will be ON. To remedy this there is one more relay that is required under the dash. As soon as I get that documented I'll get it up. But you can convert your car now as is, just keep in mind that a charging light that is always ON is normal without the under dash relay.

That's it, it's really that simple.

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